So he will probably have to look elsewhere for a quarterback. And there is no doubt that how he handles the quarterback position will define his time as general manager of the Jaguars.

If he finds a franchise type quarterback, he will be successful and the Jaguars will become a playoff contender. If he doesn't, the odds will be against him.

He may have to find a find a stopgap veteran -- maybe trading for an Alex Smith or Matt Flynn -- until he finds a quarterback in the draft.

Both Smith and Flynn lost their jobs this year. Smith lost out to Colin Kaepernick in San Francisco after suffering a concussion. Flynn signed as a free agent with Seattle after starting his career backing up Aaron Rodgers and then was beaten out by rookie Russell Wilson.

Neither Smith nor Flynn is likely to be a long-term answer but could help stabilize the franchise as the search continues for a franchise quarterback.

Caldwell also has to decide what to do with Blaine Gabbert. Does he bring him back as a backup or cut ties with him? It is difficult to believe he will go into the season with Gabbert as his starting quarterback. Gabbert has yet to look like he is ready to be a starting quarterback. Caldwell could decide to see if they can develop him but he doesn't appear to be the answer now. Chad Henne can be a backup if he is retained.

It is impossible to underestimate how important it is to find a good quarterback. The Jaguars have many other needs -- mainly in both lines -- but they could win six to eight games with better quarterback next year.

It might be a good idea for Caldwell to draft a mid-round quarterback every year until he hits on one. He might find another Wilson in the third round or a T.J. Yates in the fifth round. Or, to really hit the jackpot, a Tom Brady in the sixth round but that would be like hitting an inside straight.

Then there is the Tim Tebow question. Does Shad Khan want him to bring Tebow in? That will be a question for Caldwell's first press conferene Thursday.

Caldwell has other major decisions, including deciding whether to keep Mike Mularkey. But the search for a quarterback is more important than the coaching decision. This is a quarterback league and no coach can win cosnistently without one.

Watching what Caldwell does with the quarterback position should be fascinating.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this blog incorrectly identified Russell Wilson as David Wilson.